So early last week, my wife reported that the "Battery" light came on in our '05 Impala. The light turned on and turned off, but that it had turned on at least once (she doesn't know/can't remember if it had come on before). I tested the battery and it tested fine- 12.4V. I turned on the car and turn on the lights, A/C, and radio and tested the alternator and it came back low- 13.5V. I took that as conclusive that it was the alternator going out and so I bought a replacement alternator (link to alternator purchased) and installed it Sunday.
Sunday: Install went smooth, no real issues. After getting the new alternator installed, I made sure the belt was routed properly and that it was taut, double-checked that the alternator was reconnected and started it back up. She fired over and ran as good as usual. Put the multi-meter back on it and the alternator was at 14.1, which was still a hair low but it flickered above 14.2 enough that I was fine with it. Let it run for about 90 seconds, with the A/C on, radio on, etc. Shut it down, waited 5 minutes, fired it back up again and all tested fine.
Monday: No issues, it made it's daily 7.5 mile round trip excursion without complaints.
Tuesday: Today, it fires up normally, but dies on my wife (battery light comes on, car dies) about 50 yards from her work. Fortunately, it was close enough to get it pushed there by her co-workers. She reports that the belt is still on and taut, it's still plugged in, etc, and everything is still good. I asked her if she tried to start it and she said no, so she goes to start it and it fires right back up again.
Now, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I'm not exactly sure where to look honestly. My first thought is a ground going bad, but I don't know for sure. I also noticed a little bit of bounce in the tensioner when the car was running, but I don't think that's the culprit here. Anyone have any ideas where I should start looking first?
TIA!
Sunday: Install went smooth, no real issues. After getting the new alternator installed, I made sure the belt was routed properly and that it was taut, double-checked that the alternator was reconnected and started it back up. She fired over and ran as good as usual. Put the multi-meter back on it and the alternator was at 14.1, which was still a hair low but it flickered above 14.2 enough that I was fine with it. Let it run for about 90 seconds, with the A/C on, radio on, etc. Shut it down, waited 5 minutes, fired it back up again and all tested fine.
Monday: No issues, it made it's daily 7.5 mile round trip excursion without complaints.
Tuesday: Today, it fires up normally, but dies on my wife (battery light comes on, car dies) about 50 yards from her work. Fortunately, it was close enough to get it pushed there by her co-workers. She reports that the belt is still on and taut, it's still plugged in, etc, and everything is still good. I asked her if she tried to start it and she said no, so she goes to start it and it fires right back up again.
Now, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I'm not exactly sure where to look honestly. My first thought is a ground going bad, but I don't know for sure. I also noticed a little bit of bounce in the tensioner when the car was running, but I don't think that's the culprit here. Anyone have any ideas where I should start looking first?
TIA!